Bicycle brakes can be broadly classified into 4 major categories. They are V-Brakes, Cantilever Brakes, Caliper Brakes and Disc Brakes. Each brake type comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
V-Brakes
V-Brakes are a modified version of Cantilever brakes. V-Brakes have one arm on each side of the wheel. These arms are attached to the brake pads. V-Brakes come under the Rim Brake category. The V-Brake technology is quite old but these brakes continue to do an excellent job in today's cycles. The V-Brake consists of two long arms on each side of the wheel that provide leverage when the brake cable is actuated. The V-Brakes are suitable for most conditions and were originally fitted on mountain bikes. Now, these brakes can be found in Cyclo-cross, Commuting and Touring bikes as well. V-Brakes are also called Linear pull or Direct Pull brakes.
Cantilever Brakes
The Cantilever Brakes are the most widely used type of brakes. These brakes fall under the rim brake category. The Cantilever brakes are commonly used in Cyclo-cross bikes. Compared to V-brakes, the Cantilever brakes offer slightly lesser braking power. But it is safe to say that the braking power on offer is more than sufficient for cross country riding. Traditional Cantilever brakes are usually found in cycles without a suspension system.
Caliper Brakes
Caliper Brakes are very simple to set up and are also easy to maintain. Caliper brakes are widely used in road bikes. These brakes offer excellent stopping power and a controlled braking experience.åÊ The most common Caliper brake is the dual pivot brake. The Caliper brake has an arched bracket that holds the brake pads near the wheel rim. The pivot joints on the bracket move when the brake cable is tightened. This movement cases the brake pads to press against the wheel rim, thereby causing the cycle to come to a stop.
Disc Brakes
A Disc brake system's main component is a metal disc that is attached to the wheel hub that rotates with the wheel. When the brakes are applied, calipers on the side of the disc press against the disc, thereby retarding its motion. This in turn, brings the cycle to a stop. Disc brakes offer maximum stopping power and are thus used in Mountain, Touring and Cyclo-cross bicycles. The most desirable characteristic of the Disc brake is that it offers good stopping power regardless of dry or wet terrain. The only drawback is that Disc brakes are on the heavier side and are thus undesirable in road bikes. They are also the most expensive type of brakes in the market.
